Xabi Alonso believes Premier League clubs would benefit from a winter break.

The former Liverpool midfielder, who faces Arsenal with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, fears the intensive nature of English football could be affecting the performance of clubs in European competition.

None of our clubs reached a quarter-final last season while the Gunners are staring early elimination from the Champions League in the face after defeats by Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos.

The Bundesliga has only 18 teams, with clubs having a month-long break over Christmas and New Year.

Stroll: Bayern won again at weekend - and have long winter break to look forward to

And Alonso said: “Every country and every league is different but the Premier League has so many games and so much intensity – there is no break in the winter, no Christmas break.

“I know there is a big debate about whether that is something which has to change.

"At the moment I am enjoying have winter breaks in Germany because it is quite a nice long one.

“Whether it has to change is not something which is on my table – but it is a fact that the Premier League is very demanding compared to other leagues.”